Battery

Abstract

Batteries and methods of making batteries are disclosed. In some embodiments, a battery includes a housing, a positive electrode comprising a copper material in the housing, a negative electrode in the housing, a separator between the positive electrode and the negative electrode, and an electrolytic solution comprising soluble aluminum in the housing. A method of making a battery can include providing a positive electrode comprising a copper material into a housing, adding a material comprising aluminum to an electrolytic solution, and adding the electrolytic solution into the housing.

1 - 15 . (canceled)  
   
   
       16 . A battery, comprising: 
 a housing;    a positive electrode in the housing, the positive electrode comprising a copper material;    a negative electrode in the housing;    a separator between the positive electrode and the negative electrode; and    an aqueous electrolytic solution in the housing, the aqueous electrolytic solution comprising equal to or greater than about one weight percent of a first material capable of reducing the amount of the copper material dissolved in the aqueous electrolytic solution relative to the amount of the copper material dissolved in a substantially identical electrolytic solution substantially free of the first material.    
   
   
       17 . The battery of  claim 16 , wherein the copper material comprises copper oxide.  
   
   
       18 . The battery of  claim 16 , wherein the first material comprises a soluble aluminum material.  
   
   
       19 - 31 . (canceled)  
   
   
       32 . The battery of  claim 16 , wherein the aqueous electrolytic solution is alkaline.  
   
   
       33 . The battery of  claim 16 , wherein the aqueous electrolytic solution comprises a material selected from the group consisting of potassium hydroxide and sodium hydroxide.  
   
   
       34 . The battery of  claim 16 , wherein the aqueous electrolytic solution comprises equal to or less than about eight weight percent of the first material.